Officials check on possible link to Valley Springs girl's death

Jason Wayrynen is a suspect in a Placerville incident

Calaveras County sheriff's deputies investigating the slaying of an 8-year-old girl requested DNA from a suspect accused of forcing his way into an apartment in Placerville and trying to kidnap a child.

A region of oak-studded hills in California, where big-city dwellers come to get away from crime, was on watch Monday into Tuesday morning, just days after a mysterious intruder stabbed an 8-year-old girl to death at home before being spotted by her 12-year-old brother.

Jason Wayrynen, 42, was arrested by the Placerville Police Department on Tuesday morning after a woman wrestled her child away from the intruder.

A spokesman for the Calaveras County sheriff said because of the proximity to the home where Leila Fowler was found stabbed to death, and other similarities in the cases, officials have to give "serious consideration" while trying to identify a suspect in the Valley Springs girl's death.

Leila's home is less than 50 miles from Placerville.

Calaveras County Sgt. Chris Hewitt said there was "no evidence of an immediate connection" between the two cases.

Leila was found stabbed to death inside her family's home Saturday afternoon in the Rancho Calaveras subdivision near Valley Springs.

Sheriff deputies said Fowler's older brother confronted an intruder in their home and chased him out of the house, then returned to find his sister stabbed multiple times.

Deputies said two other neighbors saw a man flee from the crime scene.

Evidence was turned over to the state's Department of Justice on Tuesday to be analyzed for DNA evidence, investigators said.

A spokesperson for the DOJ said processing the evidence has been given top priority.

Investigators are setting up a tip line and considering bringing in a sketch artist to bring in new leads.

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